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Film Fest stays true to its roots as writer's festival

Photo by Jim Powers

Patrons gather at the Dreamland Theatre for Disney-Pixar shorts, the opening films of the 2014 Nantucket Film Festival Wednesday afternoon. In left foreground is Doug Foregger of Nantucket with his children Lassiter, 9, Willow, 6, and Thatcher, 7.I&M Photo Galleries

(June 26, 2014) The Nantucket Film Festival was founded in 1996 to spotlight screenwriters instead of actors and directors.

At this festival, the story – and the storyteller – take center stage. The 19th edition opened yesterday and runs through Monday morning, screening more than 100 feature- length and short films in all genres that stay true to that mantra.

Films that have screened at the festival over the years and gone on to wide release and critical acclaim include “The Full Monty,” “Next Stop Wonderland,” “Girlfight,” “The Door in the Floor,” “Hustle and Flow,” “The Hurt Locker” and “The Messenger.”

“I’ve been producing movies now for years, and it’s very clear.The person who writes the script is the reason we work. If they don’t write, we don’t have a job to do,” said Jonathan Burkhart, who grew up on the island and co-founded the festival with his sister Jill.They now sit on its board of directors.

For more coverage of the 2014 Nantucket Film Festival, pick up the I&M’s This Week on Nantucket supplement, and log on to www.nantucketfilmfestival.org.